Renowned Percussionists Join Yamaha Family

BUENA PARK, Calif.  Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, is pleased to announce the addition of Gordon Gottlieb and John Tafoya to its ever-expanding percussion artist roster.

John Tafoya

"It's a privilege to work with artists the caliber of Gordon Gottlieb and John Tafoya," said John Wittmann, Director of Education and Artist Services, Yamaha Corporation of America. "We're proud to have such esteemed musicians on board and we look forward to sharing their knowledge and talents through educational initiatives and clinics. We're thrilled that they chose Yamaha."

An active educator and sought after clinician, John Tafoya serves as professor of music and chairman of the percussion department at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. From 1999-2007 he served as principal timpanist for the National Symphony Orchestra and was director of percussion studies at the University of Maryland. Tafoya has held previous principal timpani positions with the American Wind Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. He also has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and numerous other ensembles and has given numerous solo recitals. Tafoya has served on the music department faculties at the University of Evansville, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Florida International University. He has published articles for The Band Director's Guide, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Florida Percussive Arts Society Newsletter and Percussive Notes magazine.

Gordon Gottlieb

"I am delighted and proud to be part of the Yamaha team," said Tafoya. "Yamaha's commitment to music education and continued dedication to the highest quality in percussion instrument design is second to none. I look forward to many years of collaboration with Yamaha!"

New York native Gordon Gottlieb has been on the percussion faculty of the Juilliard School since 1991. He plays extensively with the New York Philharmonic as well as with The American Composers Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony, Boston Pops, and at music festivals such as Santa Fe, Tanglewood and Aspen, to name a few. Active in contemporary music, he has played with, amongst many others, the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, The Juilliard Ensemble, Speculum Musicae, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and was often soloist for the Prospective Encounters and Rug Concert series with Pierre Boulez. Gottlieb has performed and recorded with jazz, rock, world, and popular musicians as varied as Keith Jarrett, Ravi Shankar, Michael Jackson, Paul Winter, and Sting. His playing can be heard in more than 140 feature films.

"Yamaha makes smart instruments," said Gottlieb. "They're well designed, sound excellent, and cover my needs live or in a recording studio. I'm a fan, and glad to be part of the Yamaha family."